*(https://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php/561599-GPU-choice-and-Laser-Multifunction-Printer) a month ago. It’s very difficult to get that all the components work in linux, so I made an economic effort and I bought a Dell Inspiron with Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS. Dell has sold me a computer with Ubuntu 20.04 and certain features, including the fingerprint reader, and … Surprise! Fingerprint reader doesn’t work. Technical support solution that costs me about 10€/month is that I’ve to install Windows, they say that Ubuntu is free and they don’t offer support for this operating system beacuse is free of charge. I’m outraged, I want to use linux. I bought this computer (and not another) because of the operating system, I wanted everything to work without problems.
I leave my comment here for the community to know, in case someone else is looking for a laptop for linux, let him/her know about this problem. I feel cheated.
I know we are in an OpenSUSE forum and I’m talking about Ubuntu, but if it doesn’t work in Ubuntu (which is the operating system that comes with the computer), when I install OpenSUSE it will not work either. I have tried several solutions, including:
sudo sh -c 'cat > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/focal-dell.list << EOF
deb http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ focal-dell public
# deb-src http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ focal-dell public
deb http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ focal-oem public
# deb-src http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ focal-oem public
deb http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ focal-somerville public
# deb-src http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ focal-somerville public
deb http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ focal-somerville-melisa public
# deb-src http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates focal-somerville-melisa public
EOF'
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys F9FDA6BED73CDC22
sudo apt update -qq
sudo apt install oem-somerville-melisa-meta libfprint-2-tod1-goodix oem-somerville-meta tlp-config -y
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:boltgolt/howdy -y
sudo apt update -qq
sudo apt install howdy -y
sudo usermod -aG input <user>
Because I’m an OpenSUSE user for a decade, my intention was to install OpenSUSE on the computer that I bought and I opened a post in this forum asking advice. I’ve also seen many comments from other users and now I know that the problem is that there is no driver for that fingerprint reader.
I had a similar problem with Dell. I bought one of their laptops that was officially supported on Linux, RHEL7 and Ubuntu. A bios update broke some of the functionality of the keyboard Fn keys. I attempted to get this fixed with a bug report on kernel.org, and by contacting Dell to try to get them to pass along the info about what exactly they changed. They basically told me it’s not supported and there’s nothing they can do. Linux is listed as an officially supported OS, but apparently that means nothing. I did get the problem resolved by downgrading the bios (which made me nervous). I won’t be buying another Dell, ever.
Thanks for the warning. The question is if other vendors are better at this? I think Linux userbase is so small on laptops that they just get ignored by the big vendors, which is very unfortunate.
I’ve seen users of MS-Windows PCs curse a lot - and even the occasional Mac user will complain.
At present, I am very happy with my Lenovo X1 Carbon generation 9 laptop, which comes with either MS-Windows or GNU/Linux (Ubuntu or Fedora). I purchased an MS-Windows version and installed openSUSE LEAP-15.3 on it, and as noted I am happy. I blogged about it on this forum. There is also an official Lenovo GNU/Linux sub-forum that provides Linux typical forum level GNU/Linux support. … I should qualify this by saying that not all Lenovo laptops are ‘certified’ for specific GNU/Linux distribution builds/versions.
Ever. For anything. Not even if you’re using Windows.
They are the lowest of lowest scumbags that try to scam people (such as sneaking in monthly support which is useless to every purchase) and even use proprietary motherboards and power supplies so that you cannot ever repair their systems outside their own service centers - I suggest you look at Gamers Nexus Youtube videos on Dell hardware - even in 2021 they offer low quality, outdated and overpriced garbage.
My main PC for daily activities is an old DELL Inspiron 17R SE 7720, i think its from 2013.
Is running OpenSUSE Tumbleweed for a year now, everything is working without issues.
Sadly it doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner, so i do not know about that.
But maybe you could give it a try.
I concede its disappointing if one purchases a computer, and the OS (whether it be Mac/Apple, MS-Windows, or GNU/Linux) that comes with the computer does not work with all the hardware.
I do believe everyone’s experience is different.
Over 10 years ago I purchased a Dell Studio 1537 laptop, which was a somewhat large/bulky beast (by today’s standards) … which I very much liked. Initially I had issues with the sound (speakers and mic). I vaguely recall getting the sound to work by writing a bug report, and an openSUSE packager (who is also an alsa sound driver developer) came up with an update (and subsequent kernel update) that fixed the issue, and I found fixes later for the mic on a Ubuntu forum (of all places). I even posted about my microphone and webcam fun with this laptop. For my own use, I would not hesitate to buy a Dell, AFTER having done appropriate research on the device.
The Dell XPS-13 was high on my list of laptop’s to consider buying recently, but in the end I decided to go for the Lenovo X1 Carbon Gen-9. My wife has an old Lenovo X1 Carbon Gen-4 which is very nice, and hence that slightly influenced my decision.
I do note thou, that for every laptop purchase I have made, including this recent Lenovo X1 Carbon Gen-9 purchase, PRIOR to purchasing, I check the web for other GNU/Linux user’s experience with the same laptop. I believe that is essential, regardless whether a laptop manufacture certifies the laptop for GNU/Linux.
My issue isn’t so much about the hardware itself, since it is again fully functional with linux. My distaste for Dell revolves primarily around their horrific customer service. I had a quite lengthy back and forth with several support people that I will not go into detail about here, but the main problem is the complete lack of any form of even remote support for an OS that they officially state is supported. For example, the bios update should not break compatibility with a supported OS, and even if it did, the manufacturer should at least be willing to provide info on the change for the *supported operating system. *Otherwise, why even bother listing it as a supported option? It’s basically a lie.
When you buy new hardware - there is a good change that the new features will not work properly for a while.
Consider yourself a beta tester for Linux on new hardware.
All Windows PC/Laptop makers have different quality hardware at different price points.
You want Dell Quality - go Latitude. you want Dell junk - go Vostro.
I have owned almost every brand over time. Dell Latitude laptops have the most spare parts available cheap on eBay.
There is no such thing as 100% of every hardware you can attach to Linux working out of the box.
Gimmicks like finger print scanners probably never will.
My 2 cents.
At least Dell offers latest BIOS upgrades for a few years after they stop making a model (Latitude - because 100’s of large customers buy them and complain loudly with their purchase $$$ and Dell listens to the $$$).
I don’t agree. I think that if I buy a laptop with Linux installed, as a consumer I shouldn’t search the internet for the experience of other users, it’s supposed to be 100% compatible and that the manufacturer has already tested it.
If, for example, I buy a computer with Windows installed or without an operating system, it’s my responsibility to make sure that it’s compatible with Linux, but if it’s already installed from factory, it’s the manufacturer who is responsible for ensuring compatibility.
You do not agree with what? You don’t agree with my caution to research first?
Well - then I disagree with you. Its classic let the buyer beware. I don’t care what OS one happen to be using, nor for that matter what product I am buying. As a consumer, I will ALWAYS research first. I will NOT blindly buy and place faith in the manufacturer. For me such faith is not warranted in today’s (nor yesterday’s) society. Sad? Yes. True? Yes unfortunately so.
I happen to agree with you that if Linux is supplied (and if Windows is supplied, and if MacOS is supplied) it should be working, but I have seen cases where Windows had issues with supplied hardware - GNU/Linux is not unique here.
So yes, it should be working , but many times such things are not working - and I maintain a buyer is not doing proper, how do I say it ? … not doing proper due diligence if they just go out and buy without checking via research for the level of compatibility that they want.
A perfect world would have the OS working perfectly with the hardware, but sadly, this is not a perfect world.
That is NOT to say one should not complain, and I support your complaining, BUT for me, rather than buy something blindly hoping I won’t have to complain, I would rather research first, and then not have to complain at all.
We have VERY different approaches to buying hardware.
.
